The Early Modern Era 1450 - 1750

Big Ideas

As the term, "Early Modern Era" suggests, signs of the modern world are visible in this era. These include globalization of many economies, modern societies and cities and the rising importance of Europe in world affairs.

Atlantic slave trade linked Africa to the Western Hemisphere.

New World silver let Europeans buy their way into Asian markets.

The Columbian exchange created new networks of interaction, and resulted in the greatest mass dying in human history.

Strayer 15, Global Commerce

Strayer 16, Religion & Science

Big Ideas Continued

Christianity became a truly world religion.

Russian, Chinese, and Ottoman expansion also played important parts in an emerging global web.

Signs of modernity appeared in several regions; modern population growth, thanks to foods from the Americas; more highly commercialized economies developed in parts of Eurasia and the Americas, centered in large cities.

Other signs of modernity included emergence of stronger and more cohesive states in various
places which promoted trade, manufacturing, and a common culture.

Many states saw a great increase in their military power, thanks to the “gunpowder revolution.”

Scientific Revolution transformed the worldview of an educated elite in Europe.

European political and military power was very limited in mainland Asia and Africa; Islam was the most rapidly spreading faith in Asia and Africa.

By 1750, Europe, India, and China were comparable in manufacturing output.

For the majority of humankind, the period 1450–1750 marked the continuing development of traditional agrarian societies; the era was as much “late agrarian” as it was “early modern.”

Wyatt Bingham-All Rights Reserved "If, after I depart this vale, you ever remember me and have thought to please my ghost, forgive some sinner and wink your eye at some homely girl."